tachometer problem

boatin12

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 11, 2008
Messages
42
hi have a 1973 johnson 65 hp. i touched neg cable to positive post by accident and now tach wont work.i still have good spark on all plugs and motor seems to run fine but the tachometer wont move any one have any ideas what could be wrong?
 

bktheking

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 29, 2008
Messages
5,057
Re: tachometer problem

You probably blew the rectifier, bet you your battery isn't charging either. Or you fried the stator, either way you need to start testing electronics.

Rectifiers have diodes in them and when you reverse cables you put too much power back through the recitifier and one or all diodes blow.



Rectifier Test:

Remove the rectifier wires from the terminal block. Using a ohm meter, connect the black lead of the ohm meter to the rectifier base (ground), then one by one, connect the red lead of the ohm meter to the yellow, yellow/gray, then the red wire (some rectifiers may also have a fourth yellow/blue wire. If so connect to that also). Now, reverse the ohm meter leads and check those same wires again. You should get a reading in one direction, and none at all in the other direction.

Now, connect the black lead of the ohm meter to the red wire. One by one, connect the red lead of the ohm meter to the yellow, yellow/gray, and if present, the yellow/blue wire. Then reverse the leads, checking the wires again.
Once more, you should get a reading in one direction and none in the other.

Note that the reading obtained from the red rectifier wire will be lower then what is obtained from the other wires.

Any deviation from the "Reading", "No Reading" as above indicates a faulty rectifier. Note that a rectifier will not tolerate reverse polarity.
 

boatin12

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 11, 2008
Messages
42
Re: tachometer problem

your right the battery wont charge any idea where to start or get a rectifier?
 

bktheking

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 29, 2008
Messages
5,057
Re: tachometer problem

your right the battery wont charge any idea where to start or get a rectifier?

I updated my first post with test procedures, Iboats should have a replacement for your boat, they aren't that expensive.
 
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